Braves smoke D'backs, 4-1

Glavine solid, Smoltz notches team-recod 40th save

BOB BAUMAssociated Press

Published Friday, August 09, 2002

PHOENIX -- Tom Glavine pitched eight great innings for his 15th victory, then John Smoltz came on for his club-record 40th save.

For two players who have long been the backbone of one of baseball's greatest pitching staffs, the scenario in Atlanta's 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday could not have been more fitting.

"It was good to get him back out there, and nice for me personally for him to get the team save record in a game that I pitched," Glavine said. "That's pretty neat, seeing as we've been around each other for so long."

Smoltz, who quickly has transformed from a terrific starter to perhaps the game's best closer, became the quickest player to reach 40 saves.

"When I think of how it's evolved, it's nice," Smoltz said. "Being a starter most of my career, you obviously don't think you're going to attain anything other than starting records or numbers. But it just actually means what the team has done and what the bullpen's done. I'm just the recipient of the opportunities and trying to learn a job."

Julio Franco and Mark De Rosa homered off Brian Anderson (5-8) in the final regular-season matchup of the top two teams in the National League. Franco, who turns 41 on Aug. 23, went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs.

"He's an amazing guy," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox. "Not too many hitters have ever played at his age and had success."

Glavine (15-6) allowed four hits, struck out five, walked three and hit a batter.

"That's about as good as I've ever seen him," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "Tommy Glavine was just too much for us today. It was just a vintage Tom Glavine game."

Junior Spivey broke up Glavine's shutout bid with a leadoff home run in the ninth. It was Arizona's second hit since the first inning.

"I wanted the shutout more than anything," said Glavine, who has two complete games and one shutout this season. "If I had given up a run before then I probably wouldn't have gone out for the ninth inning. But with a shutout, you try to go out there and ride it as long as I can."

Glavine said a blister that had bothered him earlier in the season flared up in about the sixth inning. Smoltz, who blew his first save in 26 tries in Tuesday night's series opener, replaced Glavine and got three outs to earn his 40th save in Atlanta's 114th game. Lee Smith of St. Louis was the previous fastest to 40 saves, doing it in 117 games in 1993.

The Braves have not lost a road series since dropping two of three to the New York Mets on April 15-17. They have won 11 series away from Turner Field and tied four since then.

Atlanta has won eight of its last nine and 14 of 17 to improve to a major league-best 75-39, but the Braves had lost 10 of 13 to Arizona going into the series. The Diamondbacks also beat the Braves in last year's NLCS.

"These guys have had our number a little bit," Glavine said, "and it's certainly nice to win two out of three from them and give ourselves some confidence."

Anderson blanked the Braves for four innings until De Rosa led off the fifth with his first home run of the season -- in his 90th at bat. Blanco followed with a single, moved to second when Anderson was called for a balk, and advanced to third on Glavine's sacrifice bunt.

Rafael Furcal popped out to short center field for the second out, but Franco hit a 3-2 pitch into the left-center seats, a two-run shot and his fourth home run of the season to make it 3-0.

Craig Counsell and Spivey singled off Glavine in the first inning, but Luis Gonzalez bounced into a double play to end the threat.

Gonzalez, who had been on a torrid pace since All-Star break, went 0-for-13 against the Braves series and is hitless in his last 17 at-bats.

Anderson allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out three and walked two in his first loss in seven starts. He had gone 3-0 with three no-decisions.

Notes: Atlanta placed LHP Mike Remlinger on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. LHP John Foster was recalled from Triple-A Richmond to fill the roster spot. ... Glavine needs one more victory to reach 240 and tie Clark Griffith and Frank Tanana for 48th on the career list. ... Anderson's pickoff of Andruw Jones in the fourth was his fourth of the season and 38th in 41/2 seasons with the Diamondbacks. ... Atlanta had lost 10 of its last 13 against Arizona going into the series. ... The Braves are 40-3 since May 15 in games in which Furcal scored. He was doubled in by Franco in the seventh inning.